2000-3000 Canada Geese
were seen flying over the UWGB campus this morning in numerous "V's"
of varying size, apparently headed for the water of Green Bay

The WI DNR reports some brave fishermen still catching
Muskies in northern WI. Toward the northwestern areas of
the state there is now significant snow cover, with reports of 8-12
inches. Toward the northeast there is little or no snow and "dirt"
roads are not yet frozen, leading to some difficult driving conditions.
Bear sightings appear to have been more common during the recent
deer season, presumably due to the warm weather.

Nov29

Roy Lukes reports a Mourning
Cloak butterfly in Door County November 29.

Nov28

A
little snow fell in Green Bay overnight,
but just a touch. The weather has been so mild that the snow
fell on fresh Petunias next to my house. Areas to our north
and west received major snowfall, the radio reporting depths over
20 inches in some portions of Minnesota, with 30 inches at Buffalo
Minnesota!!

Another report of low numbers of Tree Sparrows,
plus numerous Juncos, Manitowoc County (Joel Trick). He also
reports Cardinals as being noticeably uncommon.

Preliminary reports on the Wisconsin gun deer
hunting season indicate the number of deer taken (291,563) is
much lower than last year (433,511). The Wisconsin DNR estimated
the total deer herd at 1.65 million before the season began, so
there are still a lot of deer out there. If just 300,000 of the
remaining deer are does of reproductive age (a very low estimate)
and they average 1.5 fawns each year, we may consider the possibility
that the deer herd is at a level that is difficult to control by
hunting.

This was only the third deer season in the last
40 years for which there was no snow cover anywhere in Wisconsin.
The lack of snow made the deer harder to see and because of the
warm weather they moved around less, making them less likely to
be seen by hunters.

Nov27

There were still earthworms
out this morning, as there have been after each of the small rains
in the last week.

Nov26

Several people have reported
Tree Sparrows back in our area, in small
numbers.

Nov23

Still
mild, high temperature of 56 F. In addition to some of the flowering
species listed for yesterday, today I saw Field Penny Cress
(Thlaspi arvense) and Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum)
in flower at High Cliff State Park in Calumet County. There were some
very large patches of flowering Charlock (Brassica kaber)
in southern Brown County.

Lake Erie has recently
reached its lowest water level since 1966.
Lake Michigan's level is about 1.3 feet above the record low and held
nearly steady so far in November. This is the season of decline each
year and if warmer than average temperatures persist they will increase
losses to evaporation in the next few months.

Nov20

Northern lakes are still
ice-free and WDNR reported fishing was good up to the last weekend.
Many people have reported insects still flying. Hunters appear
to have registered deer more promptly than usual, because of
the need to quickly process the meat before it spoiled in the warm
weather.

Nov18

European Buckthorn
(Rhamnus cathartica) is remarkable for retaining green
leaves far into the Fall, long after most other species
have lost their leaves. This is one of our most troublesome invasive
species in Wisconsin. The tendency to keep its leaves late can be
helpful in finding plants for removal.

Nov17

The unseasonably warm weather
has brought a few chipmunks out of hibernation in Green Bay
(Bob Howe).

Photos
of the northern lights discussed here for Nov 8 are now available
on the web. It is interesting to see the different displays of the
same event from such a broad range of locations around the northern
hemisphere. Some of the photos of red light in particular are more
brilliant than any I have seen personally.

Nov12

Warm weather continues.
Daily High temperatures have been above
average every day in November so far, sometimes by as much
as 20 degrees. Low temperatures have been more nearly "normal"
(which is to say some above and some below the mathematical average),
and there were reports as early as last week of thin ice
forming on some ponds and puddles in northern Wisconsin.

Large numbers of our winter birds are returning
to nortnwestern Wisconsin, including Pine Siskins, Snow Buntings
and Tree Sparrows. They spend the summer in the far north and for
them we are the "south" that they migrate to. Everything
is relative.

The DNR web site reports that Chipmunks have
begun hibernation in northern Wisconsin.

Nov08

Good displays of the northern
lights
(Aurora borealis) have been reported in our area
and across the northern USA for the last several nights. You can
see some photographs of northern lights (including some from our
area) on the web at http://www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_21oct01.htmland a search of the web will turn up many related
sites. Thanks to Joel Trick for the web address.

Wis DNR also warns that Whitetail Deer are well
into their fall "rut" and are therefore likely to
make poor career decisions when crossing roads -- so be alert when
driving.

Nov07

Yesterdays high temperature
of 67 was 20 degrees higher than the average for that date and
only 2 degrees below the record high.

Although most trees have lost their leaves, a few
still hold them. Also a few flowers can still be found on
some herbaceous species. In mild years we have seen flowers on a
few species up to Dec 1 in the city of Green Bay. If you look carefully
you can even find a few Dandilions in flower today.

Nov04

Saw my first flock of
Evening Grosbeaks in my yard, also a large flock of migrating
Sandhill Cranes, very high. T. of Cooperstown, Manitowoc
County (Joel Trick).

Mild weather continues. Yesterdays high of 56 F
is the coldest day so far this month, but is still 7 degrees above
the average for this date.

Nov03

A flock of over 300 Canada Geese
in Allouez fields near the East River. They had been absent for several
days, then returned in smaller numbers on 11/01 and 02.

Nov01

Northern Shrike, Waushara
County (Andy Paulios). High temperature of 64 F in Green Bay is 14
degrees above the average for this date.